Born in United States · Nationality Australian — Business / finance / tech

Mike Cannon-Brookes

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “Massive funding of Climate 200 and debate over billionaires' political influence” and “Two hostile bids for AGL with Brookfield, rejected as undervaluing the company”.

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Profile No. 0839 · Updated on 12 October 2026

8Documented controversies

17Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2019–2024 (révélé en 2026)

Deep rift with Scott Farquhar and Atlassian succession conflict revealed in 2026

No legal proceedings

Investigations and the book Tech Bros published in 2026 described a major deterioration in the relationship between Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, including a prolonged period without communication and attempts at mediation. The accounts attribute a role to this conflict in succession discussions and Farquhar's departure as co-CEO in 2024.

State of the evidence: Reported by the press
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Direct responsibility

Sources · 2

[1]
The AustralianInside the Atlassian split: How two best friends built an empire then fell apartInvestigative journalismMedium reliability
[2]
The Pay Off / NineWhat Does $100B Do to a Friendship? Inside the Atlassian StoryPressMedium reliability

Last verified: 3 September 2026

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2026-03

Approximately 1 600 Atlassian jobs cut to self-fund AI and enterprise sales

No legal proceedings

Cannon-Brookes personally announced a reduction of approximately 10 % of Atlassian's workforce, or some 1 600 people, to self-fund further investment in AI and enterprise sales. Dismissed employees criticised the abrupt process, lack of individual explanations and rapid removal of access; some called it 'AI-washing'. The Professionals Australia union also criticised the lack of prior consultation.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Direct responsibility

Sources · 3

[1]
AtlassianAn important update on our teamPress releaseHigh reliability
[2]
The GuardianFirst came the AI ‘teammates’, then the layoffs: the new reality for Atlassian staff now looking for workMediaHigh reliability
[3]
ReutersAtlassian to cut roughly 10% jobs in pivot to AIMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 3 September 2026

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2019–2025

Massive funding of Climate 200 and debate over billionaires' political influence

No legal proceedings

Cannon-Brookes and his climate-related entities funded Climate 200 and pro-climate candidates across several election cycles. Parliament noted that in 2022 Scott Farquhar and Mike Cannon-Brookes had together contributed 2,5 million Australian dollars to Climate 200; 2024-25 data again placed Cannon-Brookes among its largest donors, at approximately 1,3 million.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Parliament of AustraliaChapter 2 - Political donations and electoral expenditureParliamentary recordHigh reliability
[2]
The GuardianDonors gave $131m before Australia’s 2025 election. Here’s who they areMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 3 September 2026

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2023

Sun Cable enters voluntary administration after strategic disagreement with Andrew Forrest

No legal proceedings

Sun Cable entered voluntary administration following a split between its two principal billionaire backers, Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest, over the solar megaproject's strategy: Cannon-Brookes wanted to retain electricity exports to Singapore, while Forrest favoured other uses and questioned the cable's viability. Grok subsequently provided up to 65 million dollars in interim funding and won the sale process.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
ABC NewsSun Cable: Why Australia's two richest men are battling to control an unbuilt solar farmMediaHigh reliability
[2]
ABC NewsSun Cable: Mike Cannon-Brookes wins control of mega solar project after fall-out with Andrew ForrestMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 3 September 2026

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2023-03

Approximately 500 Atlassian jobs cut, with both founders accepting ultimate responsibility

No legal proceedings

Atlassian announced approximately 500 job cuts, representing 5 % of its workforce. In their message, Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar stated that the decision had involved the leadership team and board but that ultimate responsibility rested with them as co-founders. The cuts particularly affected recruitment, programme management and research.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Direct responsibility

Sources · 2

[1]
AtlassianA difficult update on our teamPress releaseHigh reliability
[2]
The GuardianAtlassian to axe 500 jobs ‘with the heaviest of hearts’MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 3 September 2026

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2022-02–03

Two hostile bids for AGL with Brookfield, rejected as undervaluing the company

No legal proceedings

Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield launched an unsolicited offer to acquire AGL in order to accelerate the closure of its coal-fired power stations. AGL rejected the initial offer of 7,50 dollars per share as materially undervaluing the company, then rejected the increased offer of 8,25 dollars, considering it still below fair value and contrary to shareholders' interests.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
The GuardianAGL rejects takeover bid by Mike Cannon-Brookes and Canadian fund manager BrookfieldMediaHigh reliability
[2]
The GuardianAGL rejects higher bid from Mike Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield, potentially ending takeover pushMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 3 September 2026

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2022-05

11,28 % stake in AGL to block demerger; plan abandoned and executives depart

No legal proceedings

Following the failed takeover, Grok Ventures acquired 11,28 % of AGL, making Cannon-Brookes its largest shareholder, with the stated aim of blocking the group's demerger. The campaign succeeded: AGL abandoned the demerger and announced the departures of its chairman, chief executive and two female directors.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 3

[1]
The GuardianMike Cannon-Brookes says large AGL shareholders back his bid to stop energy giant’s demergerMediaHigh reliability
[2]
The GuardianAGL dumps demerger plan, yielding to Mike Cannon-BrookesMediaHigh reliability
[3]
ABC NewsAGL Energy abandons plans to demerge coal generation businessMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 3 September 2026

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2022

11,28 % minority shareholder nominates four directors to AGL board

No legal proceedings

Cannon-Brookes' entity, holding 11,28 % of AGL, simultaneously nominated four candidates to the board. In the notice of the annual general meeting, AGL highlighted that it was unusual for a non-controlling shareholder to nominate four directors, fuelling debate over the influence of a very wealthy minority shareholder on governance.

Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
AGL EnergyAGL Energy Notice of Annual General Meeting 2022Regulatory filingHigh reliability

Last verified: 3 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (2)

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.